Top brush setting or adjusting and retaining mechanism



Oct. 29, 1935. A. R LOFSTRAND. JR 2,019,423

TOP BRUSH SETTING OR ADJUSTING AND RETAINING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 21, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l *a N N Q N a l T P mm.

aw S n i ii n s b Q g 1 F 1935. A. R.-LOFSTRAND, JR

TOP BRUSH SETTING OR ADJUSTING AND RETAINING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 21, 1934 3 Sheets- Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 29, 1935 U T S'ET N OFFIQE TOP BRUSH SETTING R ADJUSTING AND RETAINING MECHANISM Application August 21, 1934, Serial No. 740,842

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a top brush setting or adjusting and retaining mechanism designed primarily for use in connection with the elevator of the glassware washing, rinsing and drying machine disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 740,841, filed August 21, 1934 but it is to be understood. that the setting or adjusting and retaining mechanism may be employed for any purposes for which it may be found applicable. In glassware washing machines, as is well known, the glasses to be washed are placed in an inverted position upon a tray or basket which is supported on a vertically movable elevator. After the glasses are so positioned the cap members or top brushes are brought into yieldable contact with the upper portions of the glasses for not only cleaning the said upper portions, but also for maintaining the glasses in the tray or basket while they are being washed and rinsed. The means now generally employed for moving the cap members or top brushes to the position aforesaid is a manually held pressure applied spring controlled part of a vertically movable counterbalanced structure which also acts to lower the tray or basket carrying the glasses into a washing or rinsing compartment, but if pressure is relieved upon said part, the latter and said structure immediately automatically elevates itself carrying the tray therewith and causing the cap members or top brushes to move away from the glasses;

such action has been found to be very objectionable due to the fact that the operator must constantly apply force to maintain the glasses and the top brushes in the desired position when washing or rinsing the glasses. It is the aim of the top brush setting or adjusting and retaining mechanism, in accordance with this invention, to overcome the objection aforesaid by setting or adjusting and maintaining the top brushes or cap members, in the desired position with respect to the glasses on the tray independent of the upward or downward movement of or of any force applied to the elevator.

A further object of the invention is to provide,

in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a top brush adjusting and retaining mechanism bodily carried by and independently adjustable with respect to an elevator of a glassware washing machine. Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a top brush adjusting and retaining mechanism for the purpose referred to which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, readily installed with respect to an elevator,

thoroughly eficient in use for the purpose intended thereby, conveniently shifted to and latched in adjusted position, quickly released when desired, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture. 5 To the above ends essentially, and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of such parts, and such combination of parts which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. 1 In the drawings: Figure l is a front elevation partly in section of a machine for washing, rinsing and drying glassware, showing the adaptation with the elevator thereof of a combined top brush adjusting and 15 retaining mechanism, Figure 2 is a front eleva 'tion of the mechanism when shifted to top brush adjusting and retaining position, Figure 3 is an end view of the mechanism when adjusted, Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the mecha- 2 nismin a non-adjusted position, and Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 with the. mechanism in a non-adjusted position.

In the drawings a machine for washing, rinsing and drying glassware is indicated at I and it is 25 of that type which includes a washing compartment 2 and rinsing and drying compartments arranged parallel to compartment 2 and not shown. At the top of said compartments is a track upon which is slidably mounted a carriage 3 provided 30 with an elevator 4 whereby the latter may be selectively positioned at the top of any one of said compartments. The elevator 4 is adapted to support a tray or basket 5 carrying the articles 6,

such as drinking glasses to be washed, rinsed and 35 dried. The function of the elevator 4 is to selectively lower into and elevate therefrom the glasses with respect to the washing and rinsing compartments. The function of the carriage 3 is to selectively position the tray carrying the glasses 40 at the top of any one of the aforesaid compartments. The elevator 4 bodily carries a vertically movable set of top brushes or cap members, and also bodily carries the adjusting and retaining mechanism 8 for the set I of top brushes. 45

.The elements I, 2, 3, 5 and B are illustrated by way of example so as to show the adaptation of the mechanism 8 with respect to the elevator 4 and set of top brushes 1.

The elevator 4 includes a cradle 9 rabbeted as 50 at In for receiving the tray 5. The cradle 9 is arranged at the bottom of the elevator. Vertically disposed suspension rods II are provided for the cradle 9 which are anchored at their lower ends to the latter and have their upper 55- ends secured to a crosshead I2 vertically slidable upon upstanding guide members I3 arranged within and secured at their lower ends to near the bottom of the carriage 3. The elevator i is counterbalanced and for this purpose a pair of cables I4 are employed which travel over pulleys I5 depending from the top of the carriage 3. The cables I depend from the pulleys I5 and are connected to counterweights I5. The outer ends of cables I4 are secured to the cross head I2.

Vertically movable on and slidably connected to the rods I I is a top brush structure consisting, of the set of brushes 1 and a carrier I6 to which; the brushes are slidably attached. The brushes are spring controlled. The number of top brushes correspond to the number of glasses 6. The top brushes when adjusted are yieldingly mounted against the upper portions of the glasses 6. The top brushes depend from the carrier f6 and the latter is adjusted relative to glasses 6 by the mechanism 8. The adjustment towards the glasses is had against the action of the springs I'I arranged on the rods II in a manner to be positioned in the downward path of. carrier I 6.

The mechanism 8 is pivotally connected. to the carrier I6 and it functions to elevate and lower the latter whereby the set of brushes I will be.

moved downwardly to yieldingly engage the upper portions of the glasses 6 carried by tray 5.

The mechanism 8 includes a pair of spaced parallel segmental shaped lower throw links I8 which are pivoted at their lower ends by pins I9 extending therethrough and also through two spaced pairs of spaced apertured ears 20 integral with the top of carrier I6. A pair of spaced parallel segmental shaped upper suspension links 2| pivoted at their upper ends by pins 22 extending therethrough and also through two spaced. pai s of spaced apertured ears 23 integral with and depending from cross head I2 between the rods II. Gppositely disposed laterally extending aligning apertured lugs 24 are formed. integral withthe sides of the cross head I2 in proximity to one pair of the cars 23 and anchored. to each lug 25 is a vertically disposed fixed depending guide bar 26 The bars 26 are arranged in parallel spaced. relation and slidably mounted thereon is a casting. in the form of a pair of spaced vertically disposed sleeves 21 connected together at their outer sides by an apertured upstanding outwardly directed web 28 formed centrally with oppositely disposed apertured ears 28'. The sleeves 2? are mounted on the bars 26. Secured against the outer face oi web 23 by holdfast means 29 in connection withv the ears 28' is a ratchet disc 363 which is bodily carried with the casting and has an axial opening registering with the opening 39 in web 28. I

Journalled intermediate its ends in the web 28 is a vertically movable pivot shaft 3| which has fixedly secured upon its ends the upstanding oscillatory operating levers 32, 33 of the mechanism. The lower ends of the levers are pivotally connected as at 34 to the lower ends of the links 2t. The levers 32, 33 are fixedto shaft 3i between the transverse medians thereof and their lower ends. The upper ends oi the links IB' are .pivotally connected to the levers 32, 33, as at 35 between the transverse medians of the levers and the points of. connections of the levers-with shaft 3i. The lever 32 is formed of a lower arm. 36, an.- intermediate arm 37 which extends inwardly at right angles to the upper. end of arm 36 and an upper arm 38 which has its outer side face between its transverse median and lower end integral with the inner end of arm 31. The arm 36 is of greater length than arms 31, 38. The arm 3'! is of materially less length than arm 38 and disposes the latter inwardly of the arm 5 36. That portion of the arm 38 below the arm 31 is arranged between the upper end of arm 36 and the upper portion of the ratchet disc 30.

'The arm 33 is disposed at an inclination with respect to the axis of shaft 31. The arm 38 is 10 formed of a pair of stretches 33, il] disposed at an angle with respect to each other. The stretch 3.9 is arranged at the same inclination as the arm 36. The lever 33 consists of a lower arm M andan upper arm 42 disposed at an angle with 15 respect to the upper end of arm M. The lever 33 does not have its upper arm offset with respect to its lower arm. The arm M is disposed at an inclination. The upper end of stretch 40 of arm 38 and the upper end of arm 42 are pro- 20 vided with cap members 43 which are mounted upon and anchored to the ends of an actuating handle 44 for operating the lever 32, 33. The normal position of the handle 34 is above the cross head I2 of the elevator. 25

The mechanism 8 includes a latching structure for retaining the set of top brushes 7' in adjusted position relative to the glasses 6. The said structure consists of the disc 3%, a pivoted dog 35 coacting with the teeth d5 of disc 38 to maintain 'mechanism 8 in adjusted position, a holding form provided at one end with an angularly disposed nose 5i extended from one end of body 50 and overlying the teeth 15. The body 5i] at that end from which nose 5i extends is pivotally connected, as .at 52 to the inner side of the lower end of arm 38 of lever 32. The other end or" body 40 53 is pivotally connected, as at 53 to the lower end of link 45. The lever 69 includes a straight part 53 and a curved part 5 3 overlapping handle M. The inner end of part 53 merges into the inner end of part 53. The latter is pivoted, as at 45 55 to the stretch 49 of the arm 38 in proximity to handle 44. The outer end of part 53 is pivotally connected, as at 55 to the upper end of link 48. The pivot connections 55, 56 are formed with inwardly extending pins 5?, 58 respectively. To 60 pin 57 is attached the upper end of spring 41. To pin 58 is attached the lower end of spring 41. The latter normally maintains the latching structure in the position shown in Figure 5. When the handle 64 is in its normal position, as shown 65 in Figure 5, the elements of the brush adjusting and retaining mechanism 8 will be as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

When handle 44 is moved from normal, the

levers 32, 33 will carry shaft 3| downwardly and 00 I the latter acts to lower the casting on the guide rods whereby the carrier I6 is moved downwardly the desired distance. The movement of the carrier is due to the throw or shift action of the links I8. As the levers 32, 33 are 05 shifted downwardly the dog 45 will travel over teeth 46. After the carrier It has been arranged in the desired position to arrange the top brushes relative to the glasses and when pressure is relieved on handle 44, the nose 5i will be engaged 70 in a tooth 46 thereby latching the carrier l 6 in its adjusted position on the elevator, whereby when the latter is vertically moved or shifted from one compartment to another of the machine the top brushes will be maintained in adjusted posil tion relative to the upper portions of the glasses. The release of the carrier I6 from adjusted position, is obtained by moving lever 49 on its pivot in a direction to provide for the shifting of link 48 in an inward direction whereby the dog 45 will be swung clear of the teeth 46 and levers 32, 33 can then be swung upwardly from their position in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 4. When the carrier I6 is in its adjusted position the latching structure will appear as in Figure 3 with the body 58 of dog 45 vertically disposed and nose 5| engaged with a-tooth 46.

What I claim is:-

1. In an adjusting and retaining mechanism, an upper pair of spaced parallel suspension links adapted to have their upper ends pivotally connected to a support, a lower pair of spaced parallel throw links adapted to have their lower ends pivotally connected to the object to be adjusted, said pairs of links normally arranged in opposed spaced relation, a vertically movable slidably mounted element arranged between the links of said pairs and including a fixed ratchet disc, a vertically movable pivot shaft journalled intermediate its ends in and for bodily moving said element, said shaft extending through said disc, a pair of oscillatory operating levers fixed intermediate their ends to the ends of said shaft, said pairs of links being pivotally connected to said levers adjacent opposite ends of said shaft, said levers when moving downwardly shifting the throw links away from the suspension links to adjust said object and to lower said shaft, and means carried by one of said levers and coacting with said disc for latching said object in adjusted position.

2. In an adjusting and retaining mechanism, an upper pair of spaced parallel suspension links adapted to have their upper ends pivotally connected to a support, a lower pair of spaced parallel throw links adapted to have their lower ends pivotally connected to the object to be adjusted, said pairs of links normally arranged in opposed spaced relation, a vertically movable slidably mounted element arrangedbetween the links of said pairs and including afixed ratchet disc, a vertically movable pivot shaft journalled intermediate its ends in and for bodily moving said element, said shaft extending through said disc, a pair of oscillatory operating levers fixed intermediate their ends to the ends of said shaft, said pairs of links being pivotally connected to said levers adjacent opposite ends of said shaft, said levers when moving downwardly shifting the throw links away from the suspension links to adjust said object and to lower said shaft, and means carried by one of said levers and coacting with said disc for latching said object in adjusted position, and a handle common to said levers.

3. In an adjusting and retaining mechanism, an upper pair of spaced parallel suspension links adapted to have their upper ends pivotally connected to a support, a lower pair of spaced parallel throw links adapted to have their lower ends pivotally connected to the object to be adjusted, said pairs of links normally arranged in opposed spaced relation, a vertically movable slidably mounted element arranged between the links of said pairs and including a fixed ratchet disc, an oscillatory structure operating on a horizontal axis, connected with said element for vertically moving it, pivotally attached at spaced points thereof to the other ends of said pairs of links and providing when moved downwardly for shifting the throw links away from the suspension links to adjust said object, and means carried by said structure and coacting with said disc for latching said object in adjusted position.

4. In an adjusting and retaining mechanism,

an upper pair of spaced parallel suspension links 5 adapted to have their upper ends pivotally connected to a support,a lower pair of spaced parallel throw links adapted to have their lower ends pivotally connected to the object to be adjusted, said pairs of links normally arranged in opposed spaced relation, a vertically movable slidably mounted element arranged between the links of said pairs and including a fixed ratchet disc, an oscillatory structure operating on a horizontal axis, connected with said element for vertically moving it, pivotally attached at spaced points thereof to the other ends of said pairs of links and providing when moved downwardly for shifting the throw links away from the suspension links to adjust said object, and means carried by said 20 I structure and coacting with said disc for latching said object in adjusted position, the said means including a lever for releasing said object to permit said structure to be moved upward to arrange the pairs of links in opposed relation.

5. In an adjusting and retaining mechanism, an upper pair of spaced parallel suspension links adapted to have their upper ends pivotally connected to a support, a lower pair of spaced parallel throw links adapted to have their lower ends pivotally connected to the object to be adjusted, said pairs of links normally arranged in opposed spaced relation, a vertically movable slidably mounted elementarranged between the links of said pairs and including a fixed ratchet disc, an oscillatory structure operating on a horizontal axis, connected with said element for vertically moving it, pivotally attached at spaced points thereof to the other ends of said pairs of links and providing when moved downwardly for shifting the throw links away from the suspension links to adjust said object, and means carried by said structure and coacting with said disc for latching said object to adjusted position, the said suspension links being of segmental contour, and 45 the said throw links being of segmental contour and oppositely disposed with respect to the suspension links.

6. In an adjusting and retaining mechanism, an upper pair of spaced parallel suspension links adapted to have their upper ends pivotally connected to a support, a lower pair of spaced parallel throw links adapted to have their lower ends pivotally connected to the object to be adjusted, said pairs of links normally arranged in opposed spaced relation, a vertically movable slidably mounted element arranged between the links of said pairs and including a fixed ratchet disc, an oscillatory structure operating on a horizontal axis, connected with said element for vertically moving it, pivotally attached at spacedpoints thereof to the other ends of said pairs of links and providing when moved downwardly for shifting the throw'links away from the suspension links to adjust said object, and means carried by said structure and coacting with said disc for latching said object in adjusted position, the said means including a lever for releasing said object to permit said structure to be moved upward to arrange the pairs of links in opposed relation, the said suspension links being of segmental contour, and the said throw links being of segmental contour and oppositely disposed with respect to the suspension links.

7. In an adjusting and retaining mechanism, 75'

' said pairs of links normally arranged in opposed spaced relation, a vertically movable slidably mounted element arranged between the links of said pairs and including a fixed ratchet disc, a

vertically movable pivot shaft journalled intermediate its ends in and for bodily moving said element, said shaft extending through said disc, a pair of oscillatory operating levers fixed intermediate their ends to the ends of said shaft, said pairs of links being pivotally connected to said levers adjacent opposite ends of said shaft, said levers when moving downwardly shifting the throw links away from the suspension links to adjust said object and to lower said shaft, and means carried by one of said levers and coacting with said disc for latching said object in adjusted position, the said suspension links being of segmental contour and the said throw links being of segmental contour and oppositely disposed with respect to the suspension links.

8. In an adjusting and retaining mechanism, an upper pair of spaced parallel suspension links adapted to have their upper ends pivotally connected to a support, a lower pair of spaced parallel throw links adapted to have their lower ends pivotally connected to the object to be adjusted, said pairs of links normally arranged in opposed spaced relation, a vertically movable slidably mounted element arranged between the links of said pairs and including a fixed ratchet disc, a vertically movable pivot shaft journalled intermediate its ends in and for bodily moving said element, said shaft extending through said disc, a pair of oscillatory operating levers fixed intermediate their ends to the ends of said shaft, said pairs of links being pivotally connected to said levers adjacent opposite ends of said shaft, said levers when moving downwardly shifting the throw links away from the suspension links to adjust said object and to lower said shaft, and

means carried by one of said levers and coacting with said disc for latching said object in adjusted position, and a. handle common to said levers, the said suspension links being of segmental contour, and the said throw links being of segmental contour and oppositely disposed with respect to the suspension links.

9. In an adjusting and retaining mechanism, an upper pair of spaced parallel suspension links adapted to have their upper ends pivotally connected to a support, a lower pair of spaced parallel throw links adapted to have their lower ends pivotally connected to the object to be adjusted,

said pair of links normally arranged in opposed spaced relation, a vertically movable slidably mounted element arranged between the links of said pairs and including a fixed ratchet disc, a vertically movable pivot shaft journalled intermediate its ends in and for bodily moving said element, said shaft extending through said disc, a pair of oscillatory operating levers fixed intermediate their ends to the ends of said shaft, said pairs of links being pivotally connected to said levers adjacent opposite ends of said shaft, said levers when moving downwardly shifting the throw links away from the suspension links to adjust said object and to lower said shaft, and means carried by one of said levers and coacting with said disc for latching said object in adjusted position, said levers having the upper portions thereof angularly disposed with respect to the remaining part thereof, and a handle common to and secured to the outer ends of the said upper portions.

10. In an adjusting and retaining mechanism, an upper pair of spaced parallel suspension links adapted to have their upper ends pivotally connected to a support, a lower pair of spaced parallel throw links adapted to have their lower ends pivotally connected to the object to be adjusted, said pairs of links normally arranged in opposed spaced relation, a vertically movable slidably mounted element arranged between the links of said pairs and including a fixed ratchet disc, a vertically movable pivot shaft journalled intermediate its ends in and for bodily moving said element, said shaft extending through said disc, a pair of oscillatory operating levers fixed intermediate their ends to the ends of said shaft, said pairs of links being pivotally connected to said levers adjacent opposite ends of said shaft, said levers when moving downwardly shifting the throw links away from the suspension links to adjust said object and to lower said shaft, and means carried by one of said levers and coacting with said disc for latching said object in adjusted position, said levers having the upper portions thereof angularly disposed with respect to the remaining part thereof, and a handle common to and secured to the outer ends of the said upper portions, the said suspension links being of segmental contour, and the said throw links being of segmental contour and oppositely disposed with respect to the suspension links.

ANDERS R. LOFSTRAND, JR. 

